How to Make Your Phone Charge Faster
Updated: Sep. 20, 2023
You're ready to start your day, and oh no! Dead cell battery. Fortunately, there are easy ways to charge your phone fast.
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Top tips for how to make your phone charge faster
You’re just about to head out for the day and grab your phone—but you notice you forgot to charge it. Now your battery power is in the single digits! But don’t worry, we have the tech tips for how to make your phone charge faster, or at least make sure you don’t lose any more power. For the best results, make sure you know how to save the battery on your iPhone to make the most of your charge—and learn to avoid the ways you’re shortening the life of your phone, to stop the problem from getting worse.
Switch into airplane mode
A good first step in how to make your phone charge faster is to switch it to airplane mode. This will keep the battery from draining so quickly, and focus the power on charging. You won’t be able to get texts or search online, but you’ll save power because your phone won’t be constantly searching for a cellular or WiFi connection.
Turn it off (or on low power)
There’s no better tip for how to charge your phone faster than to make sure all the power goes directly to your battery by putting your phone in low-power mode (or, on Android phones, battery saver mode). You can find it in your phone settings, and it will reduce the amount of power your phone takes to run. Or, better yet, turn your phone all the way off. With your phone not drawing any power to run, it will charge faster.
Plug it into a wall socket
The USB port of your computer may be convenient when you’re working remotely, but an outlet will charge your phone faster. “This is because USB ports usually only charge at 0.5 amps, so it’s going to take twice the time to charge your phone than the 1 amp power adapter it came with,” according to the website Asurion. But beware: Slow charging speeds aren’t the only reason you shouldn’t charge your phone in your car.
Use a powerful wall charger
It can also be helpful to have a charger that works faster than the one that comes with your phone. Just find an outlet, plug the charger in and connect it to your phone. This Sacrack fast charger is a popular choice that will work with any phone type. To be safe, just make sure you know these places where you should never charge your phone!
Get your phone out of the sun
Avoid exposing your phone to temperatures 95 degrees and higher, Apple advises. The heat can damage your battery capacity. In fact, your phone’s software may limit charging to about 80% when the phone gets hotter than the recommended temperature. One tip for how to make your phone charge faster to its full 100% is to make sure you cool down an overheating phone by moving it out of the sun.
Take your phone out of the case
If you notice that your phone gets hot when you charge it, Apple suggests taking it out of its case before charging. Charging your device when it’s inside certain styles of cases may generate excess heat, which can affect battery capacity. If you are constantly asking “Why is my phone so slow?” make sure it isn’t a heat-related problem from the case.
Clean out your lightning port
The problem may not be with the power of your battery itself—learning how to clean your iPhone’s charging port could be essential to how to make your phone charge faster. Over time, lint and dust can accumulate in your lightning port and clog it. (That’s where you plug your charger into your phone.) We recommend turning off your phone and using compressed air or a toothpick to gently remove any debris from the port. Then plug in your charger again and see if it works better.
Use your Mac’s power adapter or iPad charger
If you have an iPhone, you can plug it directly into Apple 12W and 10W USB power adapters, according to Apple. Connect your device to the power adapter with the USB to Lightning cable or 30-pin to USB cable. This is just one of the many iPhone hacks you never knew about!
Get a powerful wireless charger
For a quick juice boost, look for a charger with high wattage. “The higher the number of watts, the faster your device will charge,” Macworld reports. The typical chargers that come with iPhones and older Android phones carry one amp of current and produce five watts of power, according to the consumer blog Techlicious. But “new rapid chargers with technology such as Quick Charge support two amps and 12 watts or more, potentially charging your phone up to four times faster.” After you look into this top-rated wireless charger, check out more cell phone accessories that will make your life easier.
Use an Apple USB-C to Lightning Cable
Got a half-hour to spare? If you have an iPhone 8 or later and an adapter, Apple’s USB-C Lightning Cable will allow you to charge your battery up to 50% of capacity in only 30 minutes. It’s compatible with the Apple 18W, 29W, 30W, 61W or 87W USB-C Power Adapter. Don’t forget to learn these iPhone tricks for more great hacks!
Get a wireless charging pad
Though wired charging is faster, wireless charging is also a good option because of its convenience. The Samsung Wireless Charging Pad can work with phones including the iPhone 8 and Samsung Galaxy S8, Techlicious notes. Don’t forget to use this strategy for the best way to charge your phone to make your battery last.
Invest in a charging case
For an ongoing solution and to keep making sure you can charge your phone quickly, consider getting a charging case. Some models, such as the Apple Smart Battery Case, can extend your battery’s life up to 50%. They come in a range of prices and designs. Are you someone who likes to take your phone on adventures? Some of the cases are made with protective materials.
Now that you’re all charged up and know how to charge your phone faster, find out some places you should never leave your phone.
Sources:
- Macworld: “How to fast-charge an iPhone”
- Techlicious: “How to Charge Your Phone Faster”
- Apple: “Maximizing Battery Life and Lifespan”
- Asurion: “5 Simple Ways to Make Your Phone Charge Faster”
- Apple: “Fast Charge Your iPhone”
- Apple: “Charge Your iPhone With the USB Power Adapter of an iPad or Mac Laptop”
